So is it accurate to say that you consider "much more powerful cabal powers that are available to most cabal members" to be something that was good, back in the day, that is now missing?
I'm a little foggy on what all the master powers were, but I remember transform, brew and scourge of the violet spider. Maybe volley.
All outlanders get insects. Definitely looking forward to that.
Ragers get...nothing, I guess. Woe is them.
Empire gets arcane sect back. So now we have all the Russians playing Empire versions of Jakhu. That makes Empire as a whole stronger, but doesn't do much for any non-ganky member of Empire who doesn't want to be joined at the hip with a Transmuter or Invoker.
Fortress gets...healing weapons, ala Knights? Seems kinda "meh" compared to Sylvan/Master powers.
Not sure I agree that juicing all the cabals is really that great for the game.